ADL Gives Obama An ‘F’ For Failing To Deliver In ME

[Purveyor]

Two-and-a-half weeks after US President Barack Obama completed his first year in office, observers both in Israel and the US on Sunday gave his Middle East policy largely failing grades for efficacy.

“Since there are no prospects of talks on the horizon, and in many ways what their efforts wrought was a wasted year without any negotiations, I believe the administration deserves an ‘F’ for failure to deliver on results,” Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham Foxman told the ADL’s National Executive Committee.

In contrast, Foxman said that Obama deserved a “solid A for his efforts” after “he tried very hard in his first year to bring the parties together with good intentions.”

On strategy, Foxman rated the administration’s performance a “C-minus,” after “the administration... focused on trying to speed up the process toward peace, and is now questioning its own strategy.”

Among the strategic errors cited by Foxman were “unrealistic expectations” and heavy-handed focus on Israeli settlement policy.

Foxman is a Washington insider who has been close to several presidents and has acted as a frequent emissary between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office behind the scenes over the past few decades.

MORE...

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=168068

[IndianaGreen]

1. ADL's Abe Foxman is quite a rightwinger. Having said that...

the ME is a tough nut to crack, particularly when the US has had such a dysfunctional policy towards the region under both major parties.

The US is incapable of playing an honest broker. It would be best if the US just leave the parties to their own devices, and stop enabling everything Israel does. There are people on both sides of this conflict that want an honorable and just peace, even within the ruling Likud coalition. Unfortunately, there are people hell-bent on violence on both sides as well.

Perhaps George Mitchell should be replaced with Bill Clinton. It is an idea worth considering!

[karynnj]

10. I'm not sure that Mitchell is the problem

I have gone to a few Jewish/Muslim discussions that my synagogue has hosted. Our rabbi has been very involved in national interfaith (clergy, not political) dialogues. One os the very few things that an Iman from that group spoke of as promising was that George Mitchell, the man they hoped would be assigned, was.

There have been so many things that made it harder than it has been in the past. This same Iman, who is a chaplain at a major university in another area of the country, spoke to us a few years ago about how people like him, preaching reaching out to Jews and Christians, did so at the loss of some friends after the bombings in Gaza. From those comments spoken in sincerity before a mostly Jewish group, I can imagine that this a time when the Palestinians have the hardest time trusting.

At the same time, Netyanahu and his foreign minister, Lieberman (worse than our Lieberman) are among the least receptive leaders in Israel that I can remember. Not to mention that our own standing really has been diminished on both sides by out actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's even before throwing in Iran.

The fact may be that Mitchell, might in his quiet way, be the right catalyst to get something started.

As to Clinton, he is pretty busy with Haiti. It will be interesting to see how he does in that really difficult situation. With the Middle East, this might not be the right time for someone of his stature - as there would be too much of a spotlight. It also might be that we need someone with the personality to facilitate both sides in coming together, while remaining quietly in the background. Ultimately the decisions to be made have to be made by the people there and it is rather presumptuous to assume that US will create the terms of the peace. (Which Foxman, not you imply we should do)

[Enrique]

2. I actually didn't know the ADL concerned itself with ME policy

doesn't this damage their credibility on their "anti-defamation" mission?

[IndianaGreen]

3. They stick their noses in Latin America as well

but that's another story.

[elleng]

4. Isn't that nice?

NOT!

:thumbsdown:

What NERVE people have, complaining that the man hasn't solved the world's and the country's major problems, IN ONE YEAR! I think I'll play in the snow!

[IndianaGreen]

5. According to the article, Obama gets kudos for trying, but his strategy is seen as flawed

and there is consensus from across the political spectrum about this. The headline mentions ADL, but there are other people quoted that echo the sentiments expressed by ADL.

[karynnj]

11. My question is - Is it chutzpah of an American (Foxman) to consider that

an American leader will "create peace" between people on another continent. Where is his report card for Netyanahu?

[NC_Nurse]

6. Perhaps they should solve their own damn problems.

[still_one]

7. No mater what view you have for ME peace, because of what the U.S. has done in the

past, along with others, they should be pushing for talks on all sides

The problem is you cannot go, make a nice speech, and then essentially ignore it

Muscle needs to be applied both to Israel, the Palestinians, and other groups in the region to sit down and negotiate

Does that mean there will be resolution? Probably not, but it must be attempted without preconditions

[Sebastian Doyle]

12. Problem is that the only "solution" Abe Foxman and Benji NuttyYahoo will accept

is one that involves mushroom clouds over Tehran :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :evilfrown:

[still_one]

16. Abe Foxman isn't part of the government, and that wasn't my point regardless. My point was

that it is appropriate for the the U.S. to be involved as an honest broker/facilitator for all sides in the region

I am just saying dialog with all parties is what is important

[NC_Nurse]

14. I really don't see us getting anywhere and we have plenty of problems here

and two wars in the region that we need to end. How about we clean up some of our own messes and let them motivate themselves.

[still_one]

17. That is even more reason why we need to push for a dialog and talks with all parties

without preconditions

[IndianaGreen]

8. The gist of the article is that the ME peace process is stuck in neutral

several reasons are given for this situation, depending as to which party one quotes. While Obama gets kudos for trying, ADL gave him an "A," he gets a failing grade largely for a failure to understand the complexity of the situation, the intransigence of some of the positions, and a lack of the sort of leadership that is needed.

[xultar]

9. What was he suppose to deliver other than troops out and closing gitmo?

[harun]

19. Nothing.

[Malikshah]

13. Abe Foxman receives and F

For old-guard foolery.

F stands for a lot of other words as well, but I thought I'd be somewhat pleasant about the cretin.

[Zomby Woof]

15. The ADL can't be taken seriously

...by any rational person, ever.

[4lbs]

18. The ADL will never give President Obama an A rating unless he is 100% Pro-Israel.

State that the Palestinians have a right to that land just as much as the Israelis, get marked down a grade.

State that the Israelis should stop their prolific settlement building, get marked down two grades.

The best President Obama can hope for WRT the ADL, is a C minus.

[Mass]

20. You've got to love the focus of the JPost. Why did they not focus on this "solid A for his efforts”

[avaistheone1]

21. I think this admin should do more to help Gaza

not Israel.